Many poker combinations have alternative, slang names. For example, a pocket pair of aces are pocket rockets, AK is big slick, 22 are ducks or deuces, 10-2 is the Doyle Brunson, etc. Today we will expand your vocabulary by introducing you to a new name – "wheel".
You will learn what this combination is, what rules it is made by, and also what is the probability of making a lower straight in poker in different situations.
What is a Wheel in Poker?
Everyone is used to the fact that the ace is the highest card in the deck. However, there is one exception to the rules of the game.
When you are making the lowest straight, the ace takes the value of 1 in the sequence. This combination is also called a wheel. For this combination, the ace is allowed to become the card with the minimum value, closing the lower straight – A-2-3-4-5. Note that the combination 2-3-4-K-A is not a straight and the Ace doesn’t link the high and low cards together. Straights either end with an ace (10-J-Q-K-A) or begin with an ace (A-2-3-4-5).
Probability of collecting a combination:
The probability of making any straight depends on the given parameters – the situation on the flop.
Here are some examples:
- You have suited connectors. The probability that you will collect a ready straight on the flop is small – only 1.2%. If you hit an open-ended straight draw on the flop, the chances of collecting a combination by the river become real – 31.5%.
- You have a gutshot. This is the name for a combination that is not complete, when you need one specific card to make a straight. For example, A2 on a K-4-5 flop, you need a three. In this case, the chances of making a straight are two times smaller (due to the smaller number of outs). The probability of making a combination by the river is 16.5%.
Online, plenty of beginners chase gutshot straight draws, but remember, only 4 cards will complete this draw. For that reason, don’t get in the habit of clicking “call” too often with this draw.
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Wheel in Hi-Lo games
The wheel combination is not only in no-limit Texas Hold'em. The combination is also present in various high-low disciplines. At the same time, the lower street is a much more powerful weapon for winning the pot, since it is the best possible combination – the nuts.
The peculiarity of high-low games (Hi-Lo) is that the pot is divided into two parts. The first half goes to the player who has collected the strongest combination according to the classic rules, the second – to the poker player with the best low combination. Having collected a wheel, you lay claim not only to the part of the pot for low but also to the second half.
You might be interested in our other articles on how to learn to play poker. You can learn the basic rules of poker, what a solver is, and how to manage a poker bankroll. We also recommend reading about poker terms to better understand the game and the players.
Poker training with GipsyTeam
It is possible to learn how to play poker and turn it into a source of income. However, you should not think that poker rooms simply give money to their users. There is a tough fight for every dollar, but you can come out on top. To do this, you will have to work hard and persistently on your game.
Here's how you can do it:
- Learn to work in programs. Today, poker software is the most popular source of new knowledge about the game. The GipsyTeam store contains many different programs: from trackers that display statistics on opponents to solvers that calculate all possible actions and the mathematical expectation from them.
- Study free content. There are many articles and videos on the Internet that are distributed for free. Our poker catalog and news feed are the best places to get useful information. For example, we regularly post analyses from professionals, alongside the news happening in the poker world. There are plenty of materials in both places to enhance your own game, whatever your level is.
- Train. The main secret of a successful poker player is regular practice in the game for money. Moreover, you can start a career without investments. An updated schedule of free tournaments and current passwords for freerolls can be found in a special section on GipsyTeam.
There are dozens and dozens of freerolls every day, each with its own prize pool. Partypoker holds the most daily free events, with prize pools ranging from $50 to hundreds of dollars.
To participate in any of these tournaments, you only need to fulfill one condition – create an account in the selected poker room from GipsyTeam. Detailed instructions on how to do this are on the page of each room. There you will also find a detailed review of the site and the promotions it offers. All bonus offers for the rooms are collected on a separate page of our site.